Hardware for overhead doors



May 18', A19484. l Wl E. wREAD 2,441,742

HARDWARE FOR OVERHEAD DOORS Original Fild Nov. 5, 1940 Patented May 18, 1948 UNITED STATES. PATENT, OFFICE .2,441342 Y HARDWARE ron ovsansan noons william E. wiens, Los Angeles, cam., assigner, by -ine's'ne assignments, to Wre'ad Overhead Door Co., Angeles, Calif., a corporation Continuation of application Serial No. 573,171, January 17, 1945, which was substituted lfor 'abandoned application Serial No. 364,412, o f

veinber 5, 194

3 Claims. 1 Y

My invention relates to means lfor mounting overhead doors and the like, and particularly to the hardware bywhich an overhead.V door is and which will serve asv a standardV unit -for Ygarage doors throughout the entire residential iield. Y

object of my invention is to provide a novel set of hardware for overhead garage doors comprising a standard set or unit capable lof a wide range of adjustments 'to adapt it to safe and eilcient use, and in which the same spring. counter-balance means may be adjusted as to ob.- tain the desired leverage to provide proper-operation withV doors weighing up to 250 pounds or more. Y

An object of my invention is to provide a novel set of hardware for overhead doors which is` simple, inexpensive and easy torassemble and install, and which may be vmade almost entirely of simple plate and `tubular steel, the'major parts of which may be manufactured by punch pressoperations. f

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel set of hardware tor overhead doors that may be manufactured and assembled at the fac- Ytory and sold to the trade as a unit so that it can be installed by a'carpenter of reasonable experience to obtain a perfect operating door, e

Another object of `my inventionis to provide a novel setv of hardware for overhead doors unencumbered bythe diiilculties heretofore en,

countered in the overhead oounter-balance spring when mounted as to apply apull `on the roof timbers and vaide walls and which reduces to a minimum the dangers likely to result inthe event of spring breakage.

Another object of myinvention is to provide a novel set of hardware for overhead doors. that will vprovide forV a wide range ofv adaptability to varied requirements ofinstallation, that may be easily and quickly adjustedV and installed in the,

eld by the average carpenter, and which after adjustment will be substantial and Vfree from undesirable looseness or play@ l A A still further object of my'inventionis topi-ovide a novel set of hardware for overhead doors `0. This application December 3,

the; set including no guiding track, yand .being adapted Vfor installation even though the distance between the side Walls is 18 or 36 inches greater than the width of the door.A w j The invention residesrinthe lparts and combinations of parts -more particularly Ahereinafter described in detail and pointed out in the claims.

` 4 This invention isa voontinuation of application Serial No. 573,171, `filed January 17, 1945,` now abandoned, which in turny was. a substitute for application Serial No. 364,412, filed November 5, 1940,

Other objects,j advantages andffeatures of invention may appear from they accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description, and the "appended claims. K l

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in some of the -forms I at present deem preferable.

Figure 1 is a fragmental vertical sectional View through a closure member of the swivel type, and

, shows my novel hardware in elevation and the closure in its horizontal or raised position. n

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a 'closure member positioned in a Vno-head-room type garage, a fragment of which is shown,rand

- shows my novel hardware of the -point installation type in elevation `and in its raised oropen position, the dotted lines indicating the :parts in `Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section and onan enlarged scale, of the rear pivot and supporting means of the 4-.point installation of Figure 2. y Y

Figure `4 isa view on an enlarged scale of the rear .pivot when looking in the directionfof the arrowsron lined- 4 of Figure 2, certain parts being broken away to contract the view.v

Figure 5k is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken online 5 5 of Figures 1, 2 and 3, and shows the pivot and supporting means journal.

Figure 6is a fragmentary detail view illustrat- V ingv an adjustable connection for the swivel type -farmsof Figure 1 similar to the adjustable connection shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 for the rearor journaled about a horizontal axis or axes to permit of movement from a vertical or closed position to a horizontal vor opened position.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1, itV will be apparent that the door or closure member 2 may be mounted in any conventional opening or doorway 3 whether in a garage, aeroplane hangar or other building. The same type of construction is applicable with a wide range of door sizes.

The doorway 3 as shown is delimited at its top by a header 5 and at its sides by door jamb members 6. The door or closure member 2 is pivotally mounted at each of its sides to a side wall 1 of the garage or enclosure 4 and preferably to the studding 8 thereof. In its vertical closed position the door is positioned immediately behind the header 5 with its upper margin 9 extended adjacent to and in slightly `overlapping contact with the inner lower edge of the header, as shown in Figure 2 in dotted lines. The header 5 thus forms a stop for the door in its movement to its closed position. When the door is moved to its open position the lower portion I IJ of the door contacts the underside of the header '5 to prevent further inward swinging movement.

In Figure 1 I have shown the door 2 as being supported and journaled about a horizontal axis by the hardware I to illustrate the adaptability of my invention to a swivel type door. The identical hardware is provided at each side of the door, so that, for simplicity, only one side is illustrated and described. y

The hardware I includes journal means II, illustrated in section in Figure 5, comprising a hub I2 provided at one end with a flange I3 which is xedly secured to a main supporting plate or base I4 by suitable means such as bolts I5. A main journal plate lor door supporting member I6 is journaled intermediate its ends upon the hub I2 by means of a journal member I1 to the flange I8 of which the plate I6 is secured by bolts I9. A

`washer 20 is connected to the hub I2 by means of a stud bolt 2l, and serves to retain the journal member I1 in place.

Adjustably secured to one end of the main journal plate I6 is a V-shaped tubular door supporting arm 22. Arm 22 has its ba'se 23 adjustably secured and clamped to the outer or upper end 24 of the plate I 6. The outer or free ends 0f the- V-shaped arm 22 extend toward the door 2 and are adjustably connected thereto by telescoping into arm attaching brackets 26 in which they are xedly secured by set screws 21. The attaching brackets 26 at their door engaging ends 28 are flattened and bent at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the engaged arm 22 so as to lie flush with the inner face of the door 2 to which each is secured as by a bolt 29.

The base or central portion of the V-shaped arm 22 is adjustably secured to the journal plate I6 by a clamp plate 3G held in locking position by bolts 3|. Both the plate I6 and the clamp plate 30 are Apreferably provided with seat portions 32 which receive and embrace the arm base' The spring counter-balance means indicated generally at 33 comprises a coil spring member 34 secured at one end by an eye bolt 35 to the sill or base 36 of the building or enclosure. The other' referred to, being provided with a plurality of oriiices39. To the end 38 a transverse bar 4I) is secured,bybolts 4I which pa'ss through orifices 42 in thefbar and juxtaposed orices 39 in end 38. The bolt 31 is secured in one of the orifices 42. It will be notedthat the spaced orices 39 in end 38 of plate IB are arranged in rows along the edges of-'plate' I6, and that the orifices 42 in bar 40 are so spaced relative to each other and the distance between the rows of orifices 39, that the distance between` three orices 42 equals the distance between the rows of orices 39. This provides a wide selection in the adjustments to be obtained in positioning the bolt 31 relative to the axis of hub I2.

The spring 34 may be provided at either end with suitable tension'controlling means. Such means may comprise the threaded bolt 43, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, that swivels on -post 31 and extends into an adjusting nut 44 secured to one end of spring 34. v

From the foregoing it will be apparent that an overhead door of the swivel type may be mounted to close the opening into an enclosure, the mounting and journal means therefor being securedto the side walls of the enclosure and the supporting arms'adjusted relative thereto and supporting the door thereon. It is also believed to be clear that the `proper positioning of the door and of the hardware may be accomplished with a minimum of labor. The journalv means II, of course, will be mounted on the side walls of the enclosure at the proper height and horizontal spacing from the doorway as Vdetermined by the size of the doom In mounting the door the attaching brackets 26 may be loosely secured bythe bolts 29 and with the free ends 25 of arm 22 extending therein. This will permit-the arm brackets to be swiveled-on the bolts ,'29 to obtain a multiplicity of offset angles for the arm 22k relative to the door and'to the side wall. With the V-shaped arm 22 at the proper angle its base 23 may then be brought'into engagement with seat' 32 in plate I6 and clamp plate 30, and secured therein by tightening screws 3l. The tightening of set screws 21 and bolts 29 then securely fixes the door and parts in adjusted position whereupon the tension of spring is adjusted by nut 44 to balance the door. In this construction the position of the anchor post 31 may, if desired, be determined at the factory for a door having the weight of the one to be mounted. Or, if preferred, the workman may easily change the location of the bolt on the job to obtain the desired leverage.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the hardware may be mounted on a base plate a with the journal means II and spring eye 35 connected thereto. When so mounted the workman merely has to secure the unit to the Aenclosure side walls and connect the door to the arm to complete the installation. In shipping such a unit the arm 22 may be swiveled back upon the base plate a and the attaching brackets v26 fully telescoped on the free ends 25 to provide maximum compactness. l y

In the 4-point no-head-room type door installation shown in Figures2, 3 and 4, use is madeat the forward pivot'oi the-journal means I I, here indicated bythe reference character VIl which is identical to that heretofore described for the swivel type door installation with certain exceptions. The plate I6 of the journal means Il', corresponding to plate I6 on journal means il., isv devoid of the end 38 and its associated `counter-balance means. Accordingly, and for the sake of brevity, the same numerals have been applied to like parts and further description thereof omitted.

In Figure 2, the forward door attaching arm 45 is provided at its inner end with a base portion 46 that extends substantially atright anglesy to the main portion of the armY and is clamped to ythe journal plate I6' by the' clampv plate 35.

Arm 45 has its outer end telescopically connected to the extensible portion 46 and is locked thereto by a set screw 41.

The rearward door attaching arm 48 has its inner end 49 bent upon itself in the form of a triangle to form a base portion 50 positioned in seat 32 in the journal plate I6 and the clamp plate 3i). The inner extremity of arm 48 at the triangle is secured to the main portion of the arm by a clamp and bolt 52 to give increased strength to the arm through bracing the main body portion in door raising and lowering operations. The outer end of arm 48 is telescopically received in the extensible portion 4'6" which may be straight or bent, as shown, better to accommodate the front journal means. A set screw 53 holds the parts in fixed relation.

The extensible portions 46', 46" of the forward and rearward arms at their ends adjacent the door are iiattened, as at 54, and each is seated between the ears 55 of a journal collar 5E where it is held in place by a bolt 51. Each collar 56 is journalled upon a pin 58 lying parallel'to the plane of the door and mounted thereon by clamps 59 and bolts 6B. The clamps 59 are spaced upon the pin 58 and the journal collar 56 is positioned therebetween to prevent its displacement.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the offset adjustment may be obtained for the door supporting arms by their angular adjustments between the ears 55 with the bolts 51 and 6l] in a loosened condition. The tightening of the bolts fixes the angular relationship. It is also clear that in operation the arms 45 and 48 journal relative to their attaching pins 58 when the door is moved about its supporting hubs l2.

By using my novel hardware as hereinabove described in a Ll-point type door, it is not necessary to provide the usual guiding track heretofore found in installations of this type. A more economical installation is thereby obtained. It should also be noted that in my construction the journal means for the door supporting arms may be attached directly to the building walls to provide a minimum obstruction Within the buildlng. spring downwardly from the journal rather than upwardly therefrom, I am able to use my hard-L ware for installations Where there is substantially no space between the edges of the door and the side walls. My hardware is also usable where the building wall upon which the journal means are mounted is spaced as much as 18 inches from the door edge. Y

My novel hardware enables me to make installations through a wide range of conditions using one standard set. Heretofore this could be accomplished only by making special parts to adapt the hardware to the requirements of the particular installation. As a result 'of its adapta- Through extending the counter-balance bility my set of hardware for overhead doors may be formed at the factory as a unit usable for residential garages of customary widths and heighths. By placing the counter-balance spring below the pivotl adjustment thereof for different weights of doors is easily accomplished, as by moving the spring bar '4E Yaway from the pivot or axle, and by moving'the post 31 thereon.

By making the base portions 23 and 50 of the arms slightly longer than the seat portions 32, a longitudinal adjustment of the arms in the seat 32 may be obtained to further aid in the universality of adaptation of the hardware.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the downwardly extending supporting plate or base a may be provided to make -a uni-t type construction for the rear hangar member of the 4-point installation and in practice I prefer to manufacture the construction as a unit, the operating or main journal plate I6 being journaled at the upper end of the anchor or base plate aand one end of the spring 3-4 of the counter-balance being connected between the lower end of lthe base or anchor plate and the transverse bar 40 or journal plane I6. This provides a construction in which the parts may be applied to doors of all sizes and widths, and which may be used either as the rearward supporting means of a 4-p0int, no-headroom door installation or as the support of a swivel type door installation and merely by changing the type of door attaching arms to be associated therewith.

In Figure 6 I have shown a fragmentary detail view illustrating the adaptation to the arms 26 of Figure 1 of an adjustable connection to the door 2, which connection is the same as shown for the arms 46 and 45 in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

As a further step in the elimination of diil'erent types it is believed to be clear that the rear supporting arms 48 may be used. in place of the forward arms 45, if desired, and that this construction is adaptable to the branches of the forked arm 25 of the swivel type construction of Figure l.

While the particular apparatus herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of my invention, and that I do not mean to limit myself to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1./ In a journal means for a swinging closure member including a supporting base; a plate journaled intermediate its ends to one end of said base; a seat extending transversely of said plate at one end thereof; a door attaching arm; clamp means to clamp said arm in said seat; an arm attaching bracket telescopically connected to Isaid arm and adapted to be adjustably connected to the closure member; and a counter-balance means connected to the other end of said supporting base and to the other end of said plate.

2. In a door supporting means; a door supporting arm including telescopic members, one of which is provided with a base portion; pivot means including a main journal plate having a seat to receive said base portion; means to xedly clamp said base portion in said seat; the other of said telescopic members being flattened at its free end; a journal collar having ears between which said flattened portion is received; and

means to journal said collar to the door to be supported.

3. In an overhead door installation including pivot means adapted to pivotally connect the lower portion of the door to a side Wall; operating means connected to said side wall in rear of said pivot means and to said door at substantially the mid-heighth thereof and comprising a plate journalled to said side wall; an arm extending from one end of said plate to said door at substantially the mid-heighth thereof; a bar connected to the other end of said plate and extending transversely thereof; and a spring connected to said bar and to a fixed point below the journal for said plate, the point of connection of said arm with said door, the journal for said plate and the Xed point for said spring being in substantially a vertical plane through the axes of the journal when said door is moved to open position.

WILLIAM E. WREAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

